20 People Charged In Monmouth County Cocaine Ring

TRENTON, NJ — Twenty people have been charged for their roles as members, associates, and suppliers of a drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed cocaine and crack cocaine throughout Monmouth County, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced Thursday.

One person is being sought, but 19 of the accused have been arrested, Carpenito said.

They are charged with conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine or 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. The defendants arrested Thursday were scheduled for initial court appearances Thursday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lois H. Goodman in Trenton federal court.

Charged were:

• Damion Helmes, 39, Cliffwood section of Aberdeen
• Derrick Hayes, 37, Neptune
• Dequan Copeland, 40, Red Bank
• Dawn Stephens, 38, Keansburg
• Shantay Walker, 42, Howell
• Keith Logan, 38, Long Branch
• Shamar Dudley, 42, Long Branch
• Cassius Williams, Keyport
• Tonya Underwood, 36, Matawan
• Michelle Torrez, 44, Matawan
• Elizabeth Conover 28, Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge
• Curtis Jenkins, 36, Keyport
• Ralph Lee, 40, Keyport
• Jermaine Hicks, 39, Wall
• Skyler Rogers, 35, Cliffwood
• Terry Haupt, 35, Neptune
• Amad Jones, 37, Long Branch
• Eric Yarbrough, 28, Keansburg
• Rondell Hill, 35, Lakewood
• Malcolm Gatson, 45, Cliffwood

All but Keith Logan have been arrested, Carpenito said.

Authorities allege that between April 2019 and August 2019, the defendants and others engaged in a narcotics conspiracy that operated primarily in municipalities throughout Monmouth County – including the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen, Keansburg, Matawan, Keyport, Red Bank, Long Branch, Neptune, and Asbury Park, as well as Brick Township in Ocean County – and which sought to profit from the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine.

Investigators learned Helmes obtained regular supplies of cocaine from Hayes and Copeland and distributed that cocaine, portions of which he converted into crack cocaine, to other distributors, sub-dealers, and users throughout Monmouth County.

Carpenito said some evidence was obtained via court-authorized wiretaps that intercepted numerous communications by and between the conspirators regarding such issues as cocaine quality and availability, pricing, packaging, quantity, and customer satisfaction.

The defendants actively tried to cover up their activities, Carpenito said, using prepaid cell phones with fictitious or no subscriber information, traveling in multiple rental vehicles, employing counter-surveillance on law enforcement, and using coded language to disguise what they were discussing.

In addition to the wiretaps, authorities conducted surveillance at numerous sites, including the homes of the accused and those related to them, according to the complaint.

The charges for each defendant are as follows, Carpenito said:

Helmes, of Cliffwood, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Hayes, of Neptune, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Copeland, of Red Bank, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Stephens, of Keansburg, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. She faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Walker, of Howell, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Logan, of Long Branch, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison. Logan was still being sought by authorities.

Dudley, of Long Branch, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Williams, of Keyport, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Underwood, of Matawan, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. She faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Torrez, of Matawan, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. She faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Conover, of Laurence Harbor, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. She faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Jenkins, of Keyport, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Lee, of Keyport, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Hicks, of Wall, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Rogers, of Cliffwood, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Haupt, of Neptune, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Jones, of Long Branch, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

Yarbrough, of Keansburg, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Hill, of Lakewood, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of life in prison.

Gatson, of Cliffwood, is charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He faces a minimum of 5 years, maximum of 40 years.

The investigation was led by the FBI Newark Division's Red Bank office and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and included assistance from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, and the Howell, Aberdeen, Red Bank, Hazlet, Keansburg, Highlands, Holmdel, Middletown, Long Branch, Union Beach, and Brick Township police departments along with the Monmouth County Police Academy.